Fort Collins school ban on ''Merica Day' draws protesters

Amid criticism, the upcoming event's name was changed to America Day on Tuesday.

Feb. 4, 2014

A group of residents hold American flags in front of Fort Collins High School Tuesday morning in protest of the school's ban on ''Merica Day.' The school reached a compromise with students and will hold an event on Monday called 'My County Monday.' / V. Richard Haro/The Coloradoan

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Who would have thought one word could cause such chaos?

Following criticism that garnered national attention and drew protesters to the school Tuesday, Fort Collins High School will celebrate “America Day” and not “’Merica Day” on Monday, the kick-off to a spirit week intended to unify the student body.

Students had originally proposed “’Merica Day” as a spirit day theme, but the name was rejected by building administrators who felt “’Merica” is slang “often used in a negative stereotypical way to describe life in the United States” and “disrespectful to our country,” Principal Mark Eversole wrote in an email sent to parents Tuesday morning.

Eversole said rejection of the name led to discussions with students about alternatives. Students’ initial compromise was “My Country Monday,” the predecessor to “America Day,” which was agreed upon on Tuesday. Eversole and others said they didn’t expect the ensuing backlash that ultimately prompted the spirit day name change.

“We were surprised that our community interpreted our actions as anti-American,” he said in the email. “We are a proud public school in America and support many activities to celebrate our great nation.”

A small but vocal group of adults and children braved Tuesday’s cold to protest school administrators’ original decision to ban “’Merica Day.”

Protesters first gathered early Tuesday morning along Timberline Road outside the entrance to the school. By 9 a.m., the group grew to about a dozen “’Merica Day” supporters waving American flags and sipping on coffee delivered by McDonald’s employees.

As he crossed Timberline, flag in hand, John Primsky hollered at those who had already gathered: “Look at all these proud Americans.”

He said he moved to Colorado to live “the American experience.”

“If you don’t stand for something, you don’t stand for anything,” he said.

Fort Collins native Johnna Wise talked with her three young boys about what the stars and stripes on the American flag represent. She thought it important to teach her sons “what our country stands for.”

Jeff Jensen of Fort Collins said a group plans to “surround the school” at 7 a.m. Monday to support Fort Collins High’s students and invited community members to join. Quoting Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s infamous words regarding the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Jensen said “We’ve woken a sleeping giant today.”

Students saw “’Merica Day” as an opportunity to wear red, white and blue and celebrate patriotism, one student council member told the Coloradoan Monday. Some who have commented on the Coloradoan Facebook page wonder if it’s possible students wanted to drive “’Merica Day” as a hoax, a way to disparage or poke fun at Americans who are openly patriotic.